I am sat in bed, the rain is lashing down outside and I can hear the sloosh as the cars zoom by my window, their lights strobing on my ceiling. I am drinking a hot cup of chai that is warming not only my tummy but my hands. I find it hard to believe that this time last week I needed the air conditioning on in my bedroom and I was holidaying somewhere that rain is almost unheard of, something to be celebrated not grumbled about. Sunshine is one of the main reasons why we decided to visit Egypt during half term. Feeling slightly daunted by the thought of a six hour flight with a toddler, I did lots of research on ways to keep Annie occupied. Luckily monarch airlines were fabulous allowing three seats for Jay,Annie and I to sit together. This meant Annie got her own seat even though she should have spent the journey on my lap. On the return flight Jay, Annie and I were upgraded to the extra leg room seats and given a row of three again to spread out on. Annie fell asleep for the floor for most of the journey. The Monarch staff were brilliant, the food was great and I would recommend flying g Monarch to anyone.

Hurghada airport was a bit of a return to earth with a bump. Three airlines full of passengers arrived in quick sucxession. The airport was in complete chaos. People everywhere, no one knew what was going on. Visa’s had to be purchased at vastly inflated prices and tired, hot, wingey children and baby had to wait and wait and wait in a queue to get through passport control to then get our bags, and then wait and wait for a connection to bring us to our hotel. Needless to say tempers were fraying and poor Felix wasn’t very impressed to be spending his sixteenth birthday in the airport equivalent of hell.
Eventually we arrived at our hotel. It was so nice to be finally there. The concierge brought us drinks and all seemed good. Until, we got to our room and found not enough beds and a balcony that was almost part of the outdoor bar. Everyone could see in and the last thing you want in the morning when you go outside to enjoy the morning sunshine is people able to see you close up. Two and a half hours later the additional beds arrived, one of which was broken, so we sent off for a new one. Eventually everyone was settled and all too soon it was morning, which was ok because we were on holiday. The sky was blue and it was 32 degrees outside.
Later on that day we moved rooms to ones that overlooked a swimming pool at the back of the hotel. It felt like our own private pool. Everyone preferred the new rooms location and at last we could properly settle, unpack and start to relax.
Tropitel is a very nice hotel. The staff are very friendly, the grounds are tiered with pools and lounging areas and lawns leading to the beach. A pier juts into the sea with a small lagoon for trainee snorkelers and a pontoon at the end for those more experienced to snorkel from.
There were lifeguards overseeing the waters which was just as well as Sophie got herself into bother on her first venture in. Matt had recommended skipping the lagoon and heading out to the open water so Sophie, Jay and I did just that. Unfortunately Jay had been telling Sophie tales of trigger fish and the dangers associated with them. She saw one and started to panic. Then her mask started to malfunction and we were really in trouble. I had hold of Sophie and was swimming back to the pontoon with her, but the current was strong and we were making slow progress. I was so glad when the lifeguard showed up and grabbed her other arm and together we got her back to safety.
Here are some photos of the adventure so far.